Lazard Catching On

Rob Howe

04/19/2012

Allen Lazard has football in his blood with his father, Kevin, playing at Iowa State. The Class of 2014 athlete is hearing from the Cyclones, Iowa and others. Find out where the Urbandale product is in his recruitment and his plans for this summer in this update.

Allen Lazard pulled off a feat only six players in the history of high school had previously accomplished. The Class of 2014 athlete returned two interceptions for touchdowns in one quarter during his team's season-opener last August to tie the record. Then, he brought back a third pick for a score.

While the hat trick grabbed headlines, the Urbandale (IA) High is more than a one-trick pony. Colleges are taking notice of his ability as a receiver and safety.

"I went to the Iowa State game this year when they played Texas," Lazard said. "That's the only visit I've been on so far."

Lazard (6-4 1/2, 190) also runs with the Martin Brothers AAU team, which makes it difficult for him to get out too see schools in the spring and summer. He does plan on participating in team football camps in June and July.

"I'll go the Iowa and Iowa State camps," Lazard said. "I'm also going to the Ohio State camp and the LSU camp."

Kevin Lazard, Allen's father, is an assistant coach for Urbandale. Kevin is an alumnus of the Iowa State football program.

"I think most of the schools I've talked to see me as a receiver," Allen said. "They have talked about DB, too - free safety."

Lazard sees himself as a well-rounded receiver.

"I'm not going to blow by you with speed," he said. "But I can out jump people in the end zone and I catch the ball when it counts the most."

Lazard said the most important thing to him in selecting a school will be the relationship between the coaching staff and its players.

"I want to see if the coach is genuinely close with the players or if he doesn't care about the team as much and is just there for himself," he said.

Lazard said he's pretty good friends with Travis Perry, an Urbandale graduate listed as Iowa's backup OLB as a redshirt freshman.

"I talk to him but we haven't talked about Iowa or recruiting," Lazard said.